Kris Dunn Meets Starter Criteria, Increases Value Of QO

Bulls guard Kris Dunn has been deemed to have met the starter criteria as a result of the shortened season, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link). As a result, Dunn will receive a qualifying offer of $7,091,457 instead of $4,642,800 this offseason if Chicago wants to make him a restricted free agent.

We broke down Dunn’s situation in greater depth earlier this month, but the abridged version is this: A player eligible for restricted free agency receives a more lucrative qualifying offer if he starts 41 games or plays 2,000 minutes in the season before he reaches free agency, or if he averages 41 starts or 2,000 minutes in the two seasons before his free agency.

Dunn, who started 32 games this season and 76 in total over the last two years, fell slightly short of the 41-game-per-season requirement, but the criteria became prorated due to the Bulls only playing 65 of their 82 games this season. As a result, the former No. 5 overall pick was considered to have met the starter criteria, increasing the value of his qualifying offer.

As we’ve previously pointed out, the $2.5MM difference could have a real impact on Dunn’s free agency. It’s possible the Bulls will be less inclined to tender a qualifying offer now that it’s worth $7.1MM instead of $4.6MM. If they do move ahead with the QO, it’s possible Dunn will be more inclined to accept it.

If Chicago doesn’t tender a qualifying offer to Dunn, he’d become an unrestricted free agent.

As Marks and ESPN have previously reported, the NBA and NBPA also agreed to prorate the criteria for bonuses and incentives available to players in 2019/20, based on the shortened season. As a result, the following players have now achieved bonuses, according to Marks (Twitter link):

• Rudy Gobert (Jazz): $250K for a rate of one rebound per 2.52 minutes in 62 games played.
  • Original criteria: A rate of one rebound per <3.2 minutes in 67 games.
• Solomon Hill (Heat): $532K for 992 minutes played.
  • Original criteria: 1,000 minutes.
• Jrue Holiday (Pelicans): $255K for 1,922 minutes played; $255K for 55 games played; $255K for 4.9 RPG in 55 games.
  • Original criteria: 2,075 minutes played; 66 games played; 3.15 RPG in 67 games.
• Tyus Jones (Grizzlies): $858K for 32 wins.
  • Original criteria: 33 wins.
• Kyle Lowry (Raptors): $200K for All-Star berth and 52 games played.
  • Original criteria: All-Star berth and 65 games played.
• Patty Mills (Spurs): $250K for 149 three-pointers made.
  • Original criteria: 185 3PM.
• T.J. Warren (Pacers): $250K for 184 three-pointers made and .375 3PT%.
  • Original criteria: 185 3PM; .370 3PT%.